At-large Volusia County Council candidates trade barbs

A few things became clear at The News-Journal's second contentious debate for a Volusia County Council seat — this time in the at-large race between Joyce Cusack, Pat Northey and Webster Barnaby.

By Andrew Gantandrew.gant@news-jrnl.com

DELAND — A few things became clear at The News-Journal's second contentious debate for a Volusia County Council seat — this time in the at-large race between Joyce Cusack, Pat Northey and Webster Barnaby.One of them was that Barnaby, a first-term city commissioner in Deltona looking to jump to county office, is perfectly willing to confront his two veteran political opponents.Barnaby traded barbs with both Cusack and Northey in a packed and overflowing auditorium Wednesday night at Stetson University. He charged that his opponents' campaign contributions “call into question their integrity,” argued Volusia's taxes are too high, and at one point warned the crowd to “check your pocketbook before you leave, because someone may have just gotten into (it) while you were sitting here.”Cusack at one point responded: “Talk is cheap, and you do a lot of talking.” Northey challenged Barnaby to name a specific county program he would cut to save money, and when he didn't, jabbed: “Help is on the way. We just don't know what kind of help is on the way.” The debate was the second in a series co-sponsored by Stetson for the four council seats up for election this year, and it drew more than 260 people, according to a head count — 115 more than the official capacity of the auditorium.Cusack, the incumbent, and Northey, who has served on the council in some capacity for two decades, defended the county's budget decisions while Barnaby said: “It's no secret that the problem we have in Volusia County is what Albert Einstein called insanity.”“I wonder how many budgets Mr. Barnaby has had the opportunity to vote on in his short tenure in Deltona, because he's leaving so soon,” Cusack said. “You can talk the talk, but you have to walk the walk.”Northey said the tax bill on one of her properties was about $277 in 1999 and was about $288 this past year. “So let's not focus on millage, let's focus on what you're paying and what the bang for the buck is for that.”On a question from the debate's moderator, News-Journal Editor Pat Rice, about campaign contributions and political influence, Northey said she doesn't believe any local officials let campaign money influence their votes: “They are in it for the right reasons.”Barnaby had a different take: “It calls into question their integrity,” he said, “because when you take money from large special interest groups — and it's public record — it serves to tell you there's something wrong.”Cusack, after telling Barnaby his talk was cheap, said: “You say what you want to. I know the truth, and the truth will set you free: You don't know what you are talking about.”All three candidates said Volusia's $20 million investment in One Daytona was a wise decision.They differed, as they have throughout the campaign, on beach driving. Barnaby said he “will never vote to take away your access to the beach” and accused Cusack of “flip-flopping” on the issue. Both Northey, a longtime critic of beach driving, and Cusack said closing sections of the beach to driving does not mean cutting off access. Both said they support buying new oceanfront land for off-beach parking.“I have said there's room for us to have driving on the beach, and areas to not have driving on the beach,” Cusack said. “If that's a flip-flop, then I've flip-flopped.”Barnaby and Cusack also clashed over the council's Waverly Media investigation, which Barnaby said cast a “cloud” over “one of my colleagues on the dais here — I'm not going to mention the lady's name.” Cusack called the investigation a political “witch hunt” – “and you, Mr. Barnaby, want to buy into it because you think it will buy you votes. Well, it won't work, buddy.”At the debate's end, the candidates asked each other questions. Northey said Barnaby has not made any suggestions to trim the budget from his seat on the Deltona commission, and she asked him exactly what cuts he would make to the county budget if elected. He answered that there was “clearly a partisan divide” at the debate table, but he didn't name any specific cuts.For his turn, Barnaby asked Cusack what she failed to accomplish in her term. She said she hadn't failed on any issues and she would continue to be a “voice of reason” on the council. Then Barnaby held up a blank piece of paper and said: “That was the list of accomplishments you just heard. Blank.”Cusack then asked Barnaby how Deltona should pay for a special election to replace him if he wins a County Council seat. He didn't answer the question directly, but instead spoke about George Washington and the American people's “choice to vote for force or freedom. We've got too much force on the Volusia County Council.”Cusack responded: “Maybe I missed something, but did you hear an answer to how the citizens of Deltona will pay for that election? Mr. Barnaby, you need a lesson in learning how to follow direction.”The debates, co-sponsored by Stetson, continue Tuesday evening with a District 1 debate in the same Stetson auditorium. The final debate, for District 5, is Wednesday evening at the Deltona Recreation Center.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.